IllustrationMIDDLE/REAR SEAT BELT TIGHTENS.
1997 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota RAV4 are lower than the model-year median of 258.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 54 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
3 reportsUPON BEING BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR SPUN INTO A TRAFFIC ISLAND ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEA TBELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND DRIVER WA STHROWN TOWARDS PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE POST/DOOR FRAME OR ROOF, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION, TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH. THE SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE OCCUPANT, FORCING THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT, ALSO THE BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP, AND THE BELTS BECAME VERY LOOSE, THE SEAT BELT WERE FULLY EXTENDED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.